Like New Year's But Different

Article by: Stephen Jones

Director of Discipleship Ministries

Cornerstone Conference IPHC

Even before I became a dad, I looked forward to Back to School. 

Summers in youth ministry have always been a blur—filled with events and activities, camps and conferences—and somehow those few weeks between June and August seem to get fuller every year. Now that I have my own family, finding time for a vacation between work, sports schedules, and ministry opportunities can feel like a veritable juggling act. So as we get closer to the end of August, my anticipation of cooler weather and more consistent rhythms grows every day. 

For our family, the end of summer is a time to relax, reflect, and regroup. Months of planning for camps, conferences, and summer events have finally come to an end, and for a brief couple of weeks, we collectively breathe out. We always schedule a special meal together at our favorite restaurant to close the summer. We talk about what we’ve done, the places we’ve been, and the fun we’ve enjoyed. Inevitably, gratitude fills our hearts. 

And then, almost overnight, we turn the page. 

School shopping begins. Sports practices resume. Calendars change. Bedtimes get earlier. Alarm clocks get louder. The loose rhythms of summer give way to a very different daily schedule. In a lot of ways, it feels like the beginning of a new year—only this one starts in August. 

Every August, as summer draws to a close, our church schedules a Move Up Sunday to promote our children into their next classes and ministry opportunities. We also include a Back to School Prayer during our worship service for teachers, students, and school staff. Led by our youth and children’s pastors, these annual traditions give us an opportunity to recognize growth, celebrate a new beginning, and intentionally place the coming school year in God’s hands. We pray for His protection over our students and educators, His wisdom for the challenges ahead, and His guidance as families enter a new season together. 

When you think about it, preparing for a new school year in August really is a lot like preparing for a new calendar year in January. 

There’s excitement about new opportunities and anticipation of growth and change. There are new challenges to face, goals to set, and achievements to pursue. Families and communities settle into more consistent routines. Even the traffic patterns take on a different—but familiar—tempo. 

January may change the number on the calendar, but August changes the rhythm of our lives. 

The new school year is a big deal.  

So how are you and your family approaching this new beginning? 

Do you have rhythms in place that help you pause and give thanks for the blessings of summer? 

Do you have traditions that help your family reflect on where you’ve been before rushing into where you’re going? 

And are you intentionally preparing—not just backpacks, schedules, and school supplies—but hearts and minds for the next chapter? 

Just like the new calendar year prompts resolutions for positive change, let’s consider how we can turn the new school year into a time where we concentrate our focus on leading our families to a deeper relationship with Jesus.  

Take charge of your windshield time! 

Use the drive to school to talk with your children and teens about the similarities between these two “New Years.” Give them an opportunity to articulate what they’re thankful for as summer ends, what they’re most looking forward to this fall, and how they hope to grow in the months ahead. Prompt them to consider how their camps and conferences shifted their perspectives and nudged their growth in Christ. 

And skip the one-syllable, yes-or-no questions. Ask open-ended questions that invite an actual conversation: 

“Which friends are you most excited to spend time with again?” 

“How do you think this year will be different from last year?” 

“What is something you want to accomplish or experience this year?” 

“What are you going to do regularly this year to deepen your relationship with God?” 

After all, new beginnings give us a natural opportunity to look back with gratitude, look ahead with anticipation, and decide how we want to grow. 

Sounds an awful lot like New Year’s Day, doesn’t it? ;)